Stephen Crabb welcomed a Burmese democracy campaigner as an observer of his election campaign in Preseli Pembrokeshire last weekend.

Waihnin, aged 21, is a student and democracy campaigner from Burma. Her father, Ko Mya Aye is a political prisoner in Burma, sentenced in 2007 to 65 years in jail for pro-democracy activities.

Waihnin joined Stephen Crabb and his team canvassing in Haverfordwest and Milford Haven, and attended a public hustings meeting in Solva Memorial Hall.

Waihnin said: “I feel very privileged to take part in this election campaign because I would not have a chance to experience genuine democratic election campaigning in Burma, where even handing out
a democracy leaflet would result in going to jail.

“It was encouraging for me to see for the first time the way people in Pembrokeshire and throughout Britain can meet their political representatives and question them or give their ideas freely on
the doorstep. Seeing the reality of freedom in this country motivates me to campaign harder for freedom for Burma.”

Stephen added: “Waihnin is a remarkable young woman whose family are suffering incredible hardship under one of the most brutal regimes in the world. I was very pleased to welcome Waihnin to
Pembrokeshire where she is getting her very first taste of a democratic election campaign.”

Stephen Crabb is chairman of the cross-party group for Democracy in Burma and Patron of the Burma Campaign UK.